Rescuing A House From A `Remuddler`

September 27, 1985|By Bob Vila.

Q--My old house is an American Foursquare built in 1903 or 1904. Like most Foursquares on our street, it did not escape a ``remuddler.`` A horrible asbestos or asphalt siding (I`m not sure which) was applied--it`s dark, ugly green on the lower part of the house, battleship gray on the upper floor.

Can we peel it off without dire consequences? Would stripping it off damage the insulation? Also, the clapboard siding underneath has deteriorated in some spots, but it is generally in sound condition. What should I do to maintain it?

A--A happier aspect of the remuddlers` work is that they have preserved the old clapboards underneath. Do not be afriad to tear off the asphalt. It is not a big job, and can be done yourself with a couple of helpers. Your house will look much better, but it is wise to be concerned about maintenance. If the prospect of applying a finish to the house once every five or six years is distasteful, then you should leave matters the way they are.

Q--As a fed-up homeowner of a leaky basement, I am determined to get it fixed once and for all. There are so many different processes advertised I don`t know which to choose. A friend suggested having a shallow ditch dug all around next to the foundation, filling it with gravel and installing a pump to rid it of water. The job would cost about $4,000. I would like to know what you think before deciding. We also live in an area of forest preserves where the ground remains damp.

A--Yes, the ditch is the solution, assuming an unfinished basement, but it is expensive. As it happens, I have leaks in the walls of my 130-year-old basement but the builder did the same thing you`re planning. When it was floored the entire perimeter was canted back so there is almost a gutter. The whole thing is ditched to the lowest point, where there is a drain pipe.

Before spending that much money I would try to figure out some way to divert the water away from entering the house in the first place.

Q--My wife and I own a two-bedroom unit on the first floor of a five-story, 60-unit condominium. We have wall-to-wall carpeting in all rooms except the bath. Directly beneath our unit is the compactor room and the garage area. Our floor is constructed of concrete slabs.

In the 14 years that we have lived there, we have replaced the carpeting twice and had it cleaned three times. Several months after we first moved in we noticed a dark discoloration around the outer edge of the carpet and it is our opinion that the problem is being continually caused by dust from the garage and compactor room, seeping up through the porous concrete floor. Is there anyway we can seal the floor to prevent this soiling?

A--I do not think that dust and soil from the garage area floor below is the source of the problem. It is not possible for dust to travel through a concrete slab, but the surface of the slab might be deteriorating--causing it to break up and leave dusty deposits.

Q--I -would like to paint my old Chicago brick fireplace white. Should this be done? If so, what is the correct procedure?

A--This should not be done because it will alter the original look of the material as well as creating a maintenance problem.